16 Sep – 4 Oct 2026 · a pocket handbook
Salt · Stone · Sun
Australia to Vancouver, on to the Canadian Rockies at the peak of golden larch season, and down to Los Angeles for the coast, the parks and the long flight home.
The route · three legs
British Columbia
3 nightsVancouver
16 – 19 Sep
Rainforest meets the Pacific — a soft landing after the long haul.
Open this leg →
Banff & Lake Louise
5 nightsThe Rockies
19 – 24 Sep
Glacial lakes and golden larch at the peak of the season.
Open this leg →
California
8 nightsLos Angeles
24 Sep – 2 Oct
Warm coast, theme parks and a sunset send-off.
Open this leg →
Flights
Brisbane → Vancouver
dep ~9:45am · arr YVR ~6:25am (same day)
From Sydney, the equivalent is AC34 — same early-morning arrival.
Vancouver → Calgary
12:45pm → 3:15pm
Flair — add baggage when booking.
Calgary → LAX (T2)
~2:45pm → ~5:10pm
Operates daily in 2026. US pre-clearance at Calgary.
LAX → Sydney
11:30pm → ~7:30am Sun 4 Oct
Tom Bradley Int'l. Saturday disappears over the date line.
Sydney → Brisbane
~10:05am → +1.5 hrs
Book on the same Qantas ticket as QF12 so bags check through.
At a glance
18
days on the ground
16
nights, 3 cities
5
flights
Book these first
The time-sensitive ones. The full prioritised checklist lives on the Plan page.
Parks Canada shuttles — Moraine Lake (Sun 20) + Lake Louise (Wed 23)
Book now⏰ Two-day release: Fri 18 Sep ~7am Vancouver time for the Sunday shuttle; Mon 21 Sep 8am Banff time for the Wednesday one. Be logged in with your date & party pre-selected minutes before.
Disneyland tickets + park reservations — and the Oogie Boogie Bash check
Book now⏰ This month. Reserve parks as early as you can (up to 240 days out).
Flights — one Qantas ticket home (QF12 + QF516)
Book now⏰ ASAP — fares only rise.
Hire cars — Calgary (19–24 Sep) + LA (24 Sep – 2 Oct)
Book now⏰ Now (free to hold).